Michigan City Lighthouse · National Register of Historic Places
Michigan City’s story
193 years in pictures
The archive holds 4 maps from 1953 on.
12 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1833Michigan City is settled
Michigan CityIN
6 bordering townsMap →
Michigan City Post Office · Photo: Chris Light · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
31,338
2025 Census estimate · −2.3% since 2020
Typical home
$190K
+4.3% in a year
Household income
$53K
median
Median age
38.8
years
Jobs based here
15,526
Balanced
TownGrade
C−
#558 of 585 in IN
Is Michigan City a good place to live?
Michigan City’s overall grade is C−, better than 17% of U.S. towns. That places it 558th of 585 in Indiana. Where it falls short is health: CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 92% of the country. It lags on incomes as well — the median household income is $53K, and a fifth of residents live below the poverty line. On cost of living it is strong: a typical home costs about $190K, 2.7 years of the Michigan City metro’s $71K median household income. Walkability is another plus: it is more walkable than 73% of U.S. towns. Its National Register listings include Michigan City Lighthouse and Washington Park. History is its standout character grade: an A, better than 93% of U.S. towns, with 12 places on the National Register.
Figures: home values, Zillow · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · health, CDC PLACES · National Register of Historic Places.
What makes Michigan City stand out
Where Michigan City beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Michigan City LighthouseHistoryA
Settled in 1833
A history going back 193 years.
Natural hazardsA
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
32 measures vs. Indiana
0 better14 too close to call18 worse
| Widest gap | Michigan City | IN |
|---|---|---|
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 13.9% | 8.4% |
Worth knowing · HealthD
Trails IN on 18 of 32 CDC measures, beats it on none
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
How Michigan City grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Indiana), ordered by how far Michigan City is from typical.
Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 11% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listAOpen →HealthFranciscan Health Michigan City 1.3 miles awayDOpen →Jobs & incomeBased on what households earn, poverty and workC−Open →SafetyMore crime than in most townsCOpen →Cost of livingAbove the middle of the towns comparedB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.3 of 20; 8.1% of households have no car; 2.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB+Open →SchoolsBehind 71% of Indiana districts on tests and graduationCOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors5% conserved landA−Open →HistoryGraded on historic places and the town’s ageAOpen →Civic life2.6 library visits per resident; 3.5 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 154 attractions →Indiana Dunes National Park and 48 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Michigan City. Close and well known come first.
3 mi National ParkIndiana Dunes National Park2.6M visitors a year
Big draw37 mi MuseumBarack Obama Presidential Center
Big draw33 mi Stadium & arenaNotre Dame Stadium
37 mi MuseumKenneth C. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry1.5M visitors a year
40 mi Zoo & aquariumShedd Aquarium1.9M visitors a year
37 mi Park & preserveJackson ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Indiana Dunes National Park: J. Crocker, Attribution · Barack Obama Presidential Center: AlphaBeta135, CC0 · Notre Dame Stadium: Tysto, Public domain · Kenneth C. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry: zooey from Chicago, Illinois USA, CC BY 2.0 · Shedd Aquarium: Madeleine_H, CC BY 2.0 · Jackson Park: J. Crocker, Public domain
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Michigan City: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Michigan City, and how to reach them.
PowerNIPSCO22.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMichigan City Department of Water WorksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers97% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Michigan City’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Indiana you can register online until 29 days before Election Day, in person until 29 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 29 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereLa Porte County Circuit Court ClerkLaPorte County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2021
ZIP code4636046360 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Michigan City.
Michigan City gets more snow than almost anywhere else in Indiana, costs less than Trail Creek or any other town next door and has seen reported crime fall by about half.
OutdoorsA−
5.1% of Michigan City is conserved land
The density of trails in Michigan City is 0.6 miles per square mile. In 24 parks and preserves, walkers have 13 miles of trail. Also worth knowing: the biggest park or preserve is Indiana Dunes National Park, at 285 acres.
#74for trails in IN
| Michigan City | Indiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.6 miles per square mile | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 5.1% | 1.9% | 4.3% |
5.1%
conserved · 676 of 13,239 acres
13 mi
of trails · 0.6 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Washington Park | 2.4 mi | 138 |
| 2. Ambler Flatwoods Nature Preserve | 1.3 mi | 87 |
| 3. Stribel Park | 1.3 mi | 47 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HealthD
More of Michigan City’s adults have diabetes than in the typical Indiana or U.S. town
Michigan City: nearly a fifth of adults report frequent mental distress. In Michigan City, 44% of adults have high blood pressure, against 39% in Indiana’s towns and 35% across U.S. towns. Among 589 Indiana towns, just 9 have a lower share of adults who binge drink than Michigan City.
9%healthier than U.S. townsDHealth Grade
| Michigan City | Indiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 32% | 33% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 13% | 12% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 17% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 44% | 39% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Indiana
0 better14 too close to call18 worse
| What stands out | Michigan City | IN |
|---|---|---|
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 13.9% | 8.4% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 23.4% | 14.7% |
| More adults facing housing insecurity | 17.4% | 11.2% |
Franciscan Health Michigan City
1.3 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
6th
percentile among IN towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
Natural hazards: very low risk in Michigan City, mostly inland flooding
Since 1981, 20 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Michigan City. Storm and flood damage is expected to run lower than in 89% of U.S. communities. FEMA puts just over a third of the town’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 30% to cold waves. Households here have drawn federal disaster aid in 5 declared disasters, most recently in 2026.
11risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
20
paid flood claims since 1981
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SafetyC
More crime per resident in Michigan City than in 75% of U.S. towns
Reported crimes fell from 915 to 489 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
Michigan City’s rate of thefts and burglaries stands at 13.6 per 1,000 residents. In Michigan City, the level of violent crime is 2 per 1,000 residents.
25%of U.S. towns report more crimeCSafety Grade
| Michigan City | Indiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 13.6 per 1,000 residents | 8.6 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2 per 1,000 residents | 1.4 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Michigan City2
Indiana3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Michigan City13.6
Indiana12.5
U.S.15.5
25th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
23rd
percentile among IN towns
63
violent crimes reported in 2025
426
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HousingCost of living grade B+
For cost of living, Michigan City earns a B+
Its typical home is the least expensive on its borders; Trail Creek is next at $250K.
Zillow values the typical Michigan City home at about $190,000, up 4.3% in a year, 26% below the Indiana typical home. Among households here, 59% are owner-occupiers. Homes sold in Michigan City spent a median 52 days on the market.
$190KZillow home value
| Michigan City | Indiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 59% | 76% | 73% |
| Median rent | $967 a month | $946 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Michigan City$190K
Indiana$257K
Market temperature
52
days on market
94.5%
sale-to-list price
+4.3%
value change, 1 year
32
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Michigan City has snowy winters and pleasant summers
The Laporte weather station, 10 miles away, records that 65 inches of snow fall in a normal winter, the highest of 1,972 Indiana places with climate records.
Michigan City’s midsummer high comes in at 82°F.
65″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter22–35°
Spring39–58°
Summer62–80°
Fall45–62°
Oct 27
typical first frost
Apr 19
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−
Michigan City has 1.3 jobs for every working resident, and 11,693 people commute in
Roughly one working resident in three has a job in Michigan City itself. Its average commute is 21 minutes. Between 2013 and 2023, jobs in Michigan City dropped by 862, to 15,526. The top destinations are La Porte (8%), Indianapolis (4%) and Valparaiso (3%).
32%work in town
| Michigan City | Indiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 32% | 11% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 20% | 10% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $53,000 | $71,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Michigan City32%
La Porte8%
Indianapolis4%
Valparaiso3%
Coolspring Township3%
11 mi
median commute distance
15,526
jobs based in Michigan City
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 73% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Who lives here
No age group stands out in Michigan City against Indiana
In Michigan City, 20% of residents are under 18. The age mix tracks Indiana closely: no broad group is more than 4 points off. The bachelor’s-degree share among adults 25 and older is 20%, against 30% across Indiana. The town has lost 2.3% of its people since 2020, down to 31,338 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
38.8median age · IN 38.1
| Michigan City | Indiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 20% | 23% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 20% | 22% | 29% |
| Median age | 38.8 years | 39.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 19% | 18% | 18% |
Michigan CityIndianaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma11%
High school42%
Some college20%
Associate’s8%
Bachelor’s14%
Graduate7%
Women and men · all residents
48% women, 52% men
About 109 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±1.5 points). Across Indiana, 50.4% of residents are women. Median age: women 40.2, men 37.2.
| Michigan City | IN | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 12.1% | 12.4% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.4% | 10.9% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.9% | 9.6% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 15.4% | 13.1% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.4% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.2% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.8% | 12.5% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 11.1% | 10.1% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 7.7% | 6.7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 11% | 9.6% | 10.4% |
| High school | 41.7% | 32.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 19.5% | 19.3% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 7.5% | 9.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 13.6% | 18.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 6.8% | 10.8% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Michigan City
19pages on Michigan City
The big questions
SchoolsCBehind 71% of IN districtsSafetyC2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthDBetter than IN on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB+$190K typical home · up 4.3% in a yearWork & commuteC−$53K median household income · 15,526 jobs hereNatural hazardsAFEMA risk higher than 11% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Michigan City; the nearest are
Valparaiso UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Valparaiso19.2 mi$48,450 tuitionIndiana University-NorthwestUniversity or college · Public · Gary26.4 mi$8,424 in-state tuitionLake Michigan CollegeCommunity college · Public · Benton Harbor, MI36.2 mi$5,445 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Michigan City residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Indiana.
Get outside
13 miles of trails in Michigan City
5.1% of the town is conserved land, across 24 parks and preserves.
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Landmarks
12 places in Michigan City on the National Register of Historic Places.
_-_Chicago,_IL_-_June_2026.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
About Michigan City
Township in Indiana, United States
Michigan Township is one of twenty-one townships in LaPorte County, Indiana. As of the 2020 census, its population was 27,517 (slightly down from 27,522 at 2010) and it contained 13,431 housing units.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 27 sq mi
- Elevation
- 610 ft
Michigan City’s neighbors
6 towns share a border with Michigan City.
Long BeachMichigan TownshipCoolspring TownshipSpringfield TownshipTrail CreekMichiana ShoresMichigan City
How the neighbors grade
| Town | IN rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan City | #558 | C− | B+ | C | C | D |
| Long Beach | — | — | D | — | C | A− |
| Michigan Township | #496 | C | B+ | — | C | D |
| Coolspring Township | #528 | C− | B+ | — | C | C− |
| Springfield Township | #560 | C− | C+ | — | C | C− |
| Trail Creek | — | — | A | — | C | C− |
| Michiana Shores | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Long Beach and Trail Creek have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Long Beach, Michigan Township, Coolspring Township, Springfield Township and Trail Creek report no FBI crime data of their own. Michiana Shores isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Michigan City with a neighbor →
Questions about Michigan City
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Michigan City, IN a good place to live?
Michigan City grades C− overall, better than 17% of U.S. towns and #558 of 585 in Indiana. It grades D for health, C for safety and C for schools. Health is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Michigan City, IN expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B+.